My dear Sir

I am very much obliged for your extremely kind note & for your valuable present of your work on Transylvania, received this morning.² I do not think I ever read a word about this country, & am indeed ashamed to confess that I had to look at a map to be sure where it lay. Therefore, as soon as I have finished some books in hand, I will begin your volume. You must indeed feel most severely your present state of health, which I am truly sorry to hear of.— My own health has been slowly & gradually failing for so many years, that I can hardly imagine the sense of former vigour & feats of endurance. As long as I can use my mind for a few hours daily I must be content, & must enjoy the glorious scenes of nature, as described by you & others. With every hope that you may perfectly recover & observe the habits of wild animals again, I beg leave to remain with my best thanks for your kind present. Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin